Lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture



March 17', 1964 J. A. TILLER 3,124,808

LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET BATHROOM FIXTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J. A. TILLER 3,124,808

LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET BATHROOM FIXTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTO JIMKSAZXA/VDfKfiLt-W BY MZQM ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J. A. TILLER LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET BATHROOM FIXTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 T 1 CF] Filed Aug. 9, 1961 ATTORNEY March 17, 1964 J. A. TILLER 3,124,808

LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET BATHROOM FIXTURE Filed Aug. 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 A lNVENTOR ATTORNEY United States Patent Oil-ice 3,124,808 Patented Mar. 17, 1964 3,124,808 LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET BATHROOM FIXTURE James Alexander Tiller, Louisville, Ky., assignor to American Radiator & Standard Sanitary Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 9, 1961, Ser. No. 130,356

9 (Ilaims. (Cl. 4--3) The present invention relates to an improved bathroom unit and more particularly to an improved combined lavatory and water closet assembly.

As is well known, bathroom installations in common use today comprise a water closet unit and a lavatory unit which are separate units and which are physically located in different parts of the bathroom.

In modern constructions and particularly where it is desired to give bathrooms an aesthetic streamlined appearance, it is desirable to mount the lavatory and a water closet into a single cabinet unit which conceals the various supply and drainage pipes required by the water closet and the lavatory.

One object of the present invention is the provision of an improved combined water closet and lavatory in which both the lavatory and the water closet are supported firmly on a single cabinet unit.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved combined water closet and lavatory wherein the Water closet is easily adapted to be connected to a right-hand drain or a left-hand drain.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved combined water closet and lavatory in which the various operating parts are easily accessible.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved combined Water closet and lavatory which may be easily assembled together. ther and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a combined water closet and lavatory made in accordance with the present invention;

' FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the combined water closet and lavatory, partly in section, showing the drain and supply pipes;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a side view, partly in section, showing the means for supporting the water closet on the cabinet;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a support stand used for supporting the water closet;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a hanger bracket used in conjunction with the support stand shown in FIG. 8 to support the water closet;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the backplate of the water closet showing the improved soil pipe connector; and

FIG. 11 is a sectional View taken along line 11--11 of FIG. 10.

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, the combined water closet and lavatory comprises a cabinet unit 1 on top of which is mounted a lavatory unit 2 and on the side of which is afiixed a water closet unit 3.

The cabinet unit 1 comprises a rear wall 4, (FIG. 5) end walls 5 and 6 and a central wall 7 adapted to separate the cabinet unit 1 into a lavatory section A and a water closet section B (FIG. 2).

In the particular configuration shown in the drawings the water closet section B is set in from the lavatory section A and the central wall 7 has portion 8 protruding therefrom to give the cabinet unit 1 a stepped appearance. It Will be understood of course, that the appearance of the cabinet unit 1 may be changed, as may be desired.

The front portion of the lavatory section A of the cabinet unit 1 is provided with a pair of doors 10 having suitable handles 11 provided thereon. A pair of shelves 12 and 13 (FIG. 5) are mounted within the lavatory section A of the cabinet unit 1 to give the user the usual shelf space. The upper shelf 12 is provided with an upstanding shield 16 which encloses the drain and supply pipes of the lavatory section A. The lower front wall 14 of the lavatory section A is set in from the doors 10 (FIGS. 1 and 4) and is provided with a bottom wall 15 adapted to rest on the floor of the bathroom.

The front wall 17 of the Water closet section B has an upper removable panel 18 which is held in place by a knob 19 extending into a spring clip 20 to enable it to be easily removed to permit access to the interior of the Water closet section B.

The front Wall 17, the panel 18, the extension 8 and the doors 10 of the cabinet unit 1 may be covered or veneered with a suitable covering material, such as plastic, wood, etc. to give it a pleasing appearance.

The lavatory unit 2 comprises a washbowl 25 and a cabinet top 26 which has a stepped configuration to conform to the stepped configuration of the cabinet unit 1 to cover both the lavatory section A and the water closet section B of the cabinet unit 1 as shown in FIG. 1. Since the cabinet top 26 extends over the water closet section B of the cabinet unit 1, it will act as a cover for the water tank 90. The cabinet top 26 may be provided with a rear upstanding splash board 27. Preferably the cabinet top 26, the splash board 27 and the washbowl 25 are made in a single piece from a suitable ceramic, however, it will be understood that, if desired, they may be made in separate units and of other materials.

The lavatory unit 2 is provided with the usual faucet 28 overlying the washbowl 25 and the washbowl is provided with the'usual outlet 29 provided with a strainer unit 39. The strainer unit 30 is provided with the usual stem 31 depending therefrom which communicates with the lavatory drain pipe 32 through the intermediation of trap 33, pipe 34 and fitting 35 (FIG. 3). A suitable air vent 36 communicates with the drain pipe 32 through the fitting 35.

Water is supplied to the faucet 28 from hot and cold water pipes 40 and 41, respectively, which are provided with suitable shut-off valves 42 and 43, respectively. The cold water pipe 40 receives its water from a source pipe 44 connected to a water main (not shown) and the hot Water pipe 41 is connected to the usual water heater (not shown).

The water closet unit 3 comprises a bowl 50 having the usual backplate 51 (FIG. 10). The bowl 50 is provided with a seat 52 and cover 53 and the backplate 51 has a rear extension 54 which encloses an internal supply conduit (not shown) and an internal drain conduit (not shown) leading to an outlet 55 (FIG. 10).

The water closet unit 3 is mounted on the cabinet unit 1 by a pair of support stands 60 (FIGS. 6 to 8) which 3 are mounted on each side of its rear extension 54. Each support stand has a top wall 61, bottom Wall 62, front wall 63, rear wall 64 and a re-enforcing rim 65. Each support stand 60 is anchored to the floor 67 of the bathroom by bolts 68 extending through openings 66 in the bottom wall 62.

A pair of hanger brackets 70 (only one of which is shown in the drawings), are used to support the water closet unit 3 in suspended position. Each hanger bracket 70 is mounted on the front wall 17 of the water closet section B of the cabinet unit 1 by means of bolts 71 extending through openings 72 in front wall 63 of each support stand 60, openings 69 in front wall 17 (FIG. 6) and openings 73 in the hanger bracket 70 (FIG. 9). The hanger bracket 70 has an offset upstanding lip portion 74 which is spaced from the front wall 17 and which is adapted to support the hook portion 75 depending from the top of the backplate 51 of water closet 3 which fits into the space between front wall 17 and offset lip portion 74 to hold the water closet unit 3 suspended.

A T-bolt 76 is mounted on each support stand 60 through opening 77 below the openings 72 for the hanger bracket 70. The T-bolt 76 extends through the front wall 17 and into a boss 80 in the backplate 51 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to hold the water closet unit 3 securely in place.

A water tank (FIGS. 3 and 4) is mounted on top wall 92 of the rear extension 54 of the water closet unit 3 by means of suitable bolts (not shown) extending into openings 91 in the top wall 92 of the water closet unit 3, as shown in FIG. 10.

The water tank 90 has side walls 93 and a bottom wall 94 which has a supply opening 95 therein which fits over and communicates with a supply opening 96 in the top wall 92 of the water closet 3 which in turn communicates with the internal supply conduit (not shown) of the water closet 3. Since the cabinet top 26 of the lavatory unit 2 extends over the water tank 90, the necessity of utilizing a separate cover portion for the water tank is eliminated.

The water tank 90 is fed by the water supply pipe 44 through an automatic shut-off valve 97 and a water control mechanism 98 from which extends a water supply conduit 99 which supplies water to the bowl 50 of the water closet unit 3 while the water tank 90 is being filled.

As is usual in such structures, the automatic shut-off valve 97 is controlled by a float ball 100 which is adapted to float on the water in the water tank 90 and which has a lever rod 101 attached thereto and adapted to control the shut-off valve 97. When the water in the water tank 90 rises the float ball 100 will also rise to pivot the rod 101 and when the Water reaches a predetermined level, the rod 101 is pivoted to a point which will close the shutoff valve 97 and stop the supply of Water.

A flush valve assembly 102 is mounted over the supply opening 95 and is provided with a flush shut-off member 103, which may be the usual ball or pad, seated on the supply opening 95 to prevent the water in the water tank 90 from emptying into the bowl 50 of the water closet unit 3 until the bowl 50 is to be flushed. The flush shutofi member 103 is controlled by a flush control plate 104 which is adapted to unseat the flush shut-oif member 103 from the supply opening 95 of water tank 90 to allow water to pass from the tank 90 to the bowl 50 of the water closet unit 3 as will be more fully discussed hereinafter.

The flush valve assembly 102 is provided with an upstanding overflow tube 105 having a plurality of overflow slits 106 in its upper surface which extend below the tops of the side walls 93 of the water tank 90 to permit excess water in the water tank 90 to flow into overflow tube 105 and into the bowl 50. Since the overflow slits 106 extend below the tops of the side walls 93, the top of overflow tube 105 and the flush control plate 104 can extend above the tops of the side walls 93 of the water tank 90 '4 for a purpose which will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

The removable panel 18 of the water closet section B of cabinet unit 1 is provided with a flush valve trip lever 110 pivotally mounted on its outer surface and a flush control rod 111 operatively associated with trip lever 110 extending along the inner surface. The flush control rod 111 is provided with a knob 112 at its free end adapted to underlie the flush control plate 104. With this structure, when the trip lever 110 is rotated to pivot the flush control rod 111 the flush control plate 104 will be elevated by the knob 112 and the fiush shutoff member 103 will be lifted oif the supply opening 95 of water tank 90 to permit the water to pass from the water tank 90 into the bowl 50 of the water closet unit 3. The float ball 100 is lowered thus opening the shut-off valve 97 to feed water to the water tank 90. After the water tank 90 is empty the flush shut-off member 103 is again seated on the opening 95 to close it so that the water tank 90 is again permitted to fill with water.

Since the flush control rod 111 is not screwed, hooked or otherwise connected to the flush control plate 104 but merely has its knob 112 positioned beneath the flush control plate 104 and since the flush control rod 112 is located above the tops of the side walls 93 of the water tank 90 (this is possible because the overflow slits 106 in overflow tube 105 extend below the tops of side walls 93 thereby permitting the flush valve control plate 104 to be located above the tops of the side walls), when the front panel 18 is removed by pulling it out until the knob 19 slips out of the spring clip 20 the trip lever 110 and its associated flush control rod 111 will be removed with the front panel 18 and the knob 112 merely slides out from beneath the flush control plate 104. Furthermore, when the front panel 18 is replaced, the trip lever 110 and its associated flush control rod 111 will be automatically placed in their operative positions with the knob 112 inserted beneath the flush control plate 104. Hence access to the water tank 90 can be easily obtained without the use of special tools.

The present invention also provides an improved soil pipe connection (FIGS. 10 and 11) which will permit the water closet unit 3 to be utilized with a right-hand or a left-hand drain pipe. The rear extension 54 of the water closet unit 3 has an integral T-shaped outlet 55 which comprises a central outlet portion 121, communieating with the internal supply conduit (not shown) of the water closet unit 3, and side outlet portions 122 and 123 substantially at right angles to central outlet portion 121.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings the drain pipe 124 is to the left of FIGS. 10 and 11 so that the side outlet portion 123 of the T-shaped outlet 55 is com nected thereto and other side outlet portion 122 is closed. The side outlet portion 123 is connected to the drain pipe 124 by a connector 125 which has an inner sleeve 126 insertably within the drain pipe 124 and an outer sleeve 127 which fits over the side outlet portion 123 of the outlet 55. A gasket 128 is interposed between an internal shoulder 129 formed in the connector 125 and the edge 130 of the side outlet portion 123.

The other side outlet portion 122 is closed by an alignment disc 131 which is provided with an inwardly extending flow bafile 132 which is angled in the direction of side outlet portion 123 to direct the flow toward the drain pipe 124. A suitable gasket 132 is interposed between the side outlet portion 122 and the alignment disc 131 to prevent leakage.

The alignment disc 131 and the connector 125 are held in place by a U-shaped clamp 135 having a base 136 overlying the alignment disc 131 and a pair of legs 137. Each leg 137 is provided with an angled slot 138 adapted to receive a pin 139 extending from the connector 125. The U-shaped clamp 135 has a set screw 140 threadably mounted in its base 136 so that when the set screw 140 is tightened it will pull the U-shaped clamp 135 backwards away from the side outlet portion 123 to permit the slots 138 to cooperate with pins 139 and thus tighten the alignment disc 131 and the connector 125 in place.

It will be seen that if the drain pipe 124 is on the other side of the water closet unit 3, the positions of the alignment disc 131 and the connector 125 may be easily reversed. Hence the water closet is adapted to be easily used with a left-hand drain or a right hand drain.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improved combined water closet and lavatory wherein the two units are easily assembled in a single cabinet unit in which access to the interior of the cabinet can be easily obtained and which can be utilized with a right hand and left-hand drain.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a water closet, comprising a toilet bowl, a water tank mounted to the rear of said toilet bowl, a panel or the like for concealing said water tank from view wherein the water tank is on one side of said panel and the toilet bowl extends from an opposite side, a flush valve having an overflow tube mounted within said water tank, said flush valve having a control element extending above said toilet bowl for the various operating positions or said flush valve, a trip lever on said panel extending over the top of said Water tank and below said control element for the various operating positions of said flush valve, means for providing a detachable operating connection between said trip lever and said control element, said means extending above the top of said water tank, and being operable to provide for placing and removing said panel from adjacent said water tank, said detachable connection being en-gageable and disengageable when the panel is replaced and removed.

2. In a water closet as set forth in claim 1 wherein said trip lever underlies said control element independently of any rigid connection therebetween, said trip lever being slid out from under the control element as the panel is removed and being slid under the control element as the panel is replaced.

3. A bathroom fixture comprising a water closet having a water tank, a cabinet enclosing said water tank being provided with side walls, a flush valve having an overflow tube mounted within said water tank, said overflow tube having overflow openings at its upper end which extend below the tops of said side walls of the water tank, a control element for said flush valve extending above the side walls of the water tank for the various operating positions of said flush valve, a flush valve actuating means carried by a panel on said cabinet and extending exteriorly thereto, and connecting means forming an operative connection between said control element and said flush valve actuating means, said connecting means being located above the top of said water tank and being readily operable to be disconnected when said panel is removed from said cabinet.

4. A combination lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture, comprising a plurality of mated structural members and panels fastened together to form a cabinet unit having a generally flat back and a stepped front, a counter top supported on said cabinet unit, said panels and said counter top generally enclosing said cabinet unit such that the latter is generally hollow, said counter top having a lavatory extending into said hollow cabinet unit beneath said counter top, a support structure within said hollow cabinet unit, a toilet bowl mounted on said support structure and projecting outwardly from an inclined front portion of said stepped front or said cabinet unit such that the toilet bowl extends at an angle towards a generally central portion of the cabinet as the forward outer end of the toilet bowl is approached, supply and drain piping passing through the interior of said hollow cabinet unit for supplying and draining said lavatory and water closet, and means between said structural members and at least one of said panels shiftably mounting the latter on said cabinet unit to provide access to the supply and drain piping and to the other components within said hollow cabinet unit.

5. A combination lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture as set forth in claim 4, further comprising a flush tank having a bottom wall and side walls mounted within said hollow cabinet unit, a flush valve mounted said flush tank, said bottom wall of said flush tank having an opening underlying said flush valve to discharge flush water into said toilet bowl when the tank is flushed, and conduit means for admitting water through the open top of said flush tank to fill the flush tank and to supply water to said lavatory.

6. A combination lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture, comprising a plurality of mated structural members and panels joined together to define a generally hollow cabinet unit having a generally flat back and a stepped front, a counter top supported on said cabinet unit, a lavatory comprising a washbowl extending into and supported by said hollow cabinet unit, a flush tank within said cabinet unit beneath said counter top and adjacent to said lavatory, a support structure within said hollow cabinet unit, a toilet bowl mounted on said support structure and projecting from an inclined front portion of said stepped front of said cabinet unit such that the toilet bowl extends at an angle towards a generally central portion of the cabinet unit :as the forward outer end of the toilet bowl is approached, supply and drain piping passing through the hollow portions of said cabinet unit for supplying and draining said lavatory and water closet, and means between said structural members and at least one of said panels shrf'tably mounting the latter on said cabinet unit to provide access to the piping and components within said hollow cabinet unit.

7. A combination lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a central drain outlet for said toilet bowl mounted in said hollow cabinet unit, a first side outlet portion communicating with and angled with respect to the central drain outlet, 'a second side outlet portion communicating with said central outlet and facing in a direction away from the direction of the first side outlet portion, a drain pipe within said hollow cabinet unit extending from one or said side outlet portions, and sealing means connected to the other of said side outlet port-ions, said drain pipe and said sealing means being interchangeably connected to said side outlet portions to provide a left or right hand cabinet unit.

-8. A combination lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture, comprising a plurality of structural members and panels joined together to define a generally hollow cabinet unit having a generally flat back and a stepped front, a lavatory unit and a water closet unit mounted on said cabinet unit, said lavatory unit comprising an integral ceramic member defining a cabinet top and a washbowl, said water closet unit projecting outwardly from an inclined front portion of said stepped front of said cabinet unit such that the water closet unit extends at an angle towards a generally central portion of the cabinet unit as the forward outer end of the water closet unit is approached, a flush tank for said water closet unit mounted within said cabinet unit and underlying said integral ceramic member, support means within said cabinet unit beneath said flush tank, means for mounting said water closet unit on said support means, supply and drain piping in the hollow portion of said cabinet unit for supplying and draining said lavatory and water closet units, and means between said structural members and at least one of said panels shift-ably mounting the latter on said cabinet unit to provide access to the piping and components within said hollow cabinet unit.

9. A combination lavatory and water closet bathroom fixture, comprising a plurality of structural members and panels joined together to define a generally hollow cabinet unit having a generaly flat back and a stepped front, a counter top supported on said cabinet unit, a lavatory comprising a washbowl extending into and supported by said hollow cabinet unit, a water tank within said cabinet unit beneath said counter top, a toilet bowl projecting outwardly from an inclined front portion of said stepped front of said cabinet unit such that the toilet bowl extends at an angle towards a generally central portion of the cabinet unit as the forward outer end of the toilet bowl is approached, a central outlet conduit for said toilet bowl within the confines of said cabinet unit, a first side outlet conduit within said cabinet unit communicating with and angled with respect to said central outlet conduit, a second side outlet conduit within said cabinet unit communicating with said central outlet conduit and facing in a direction different from said first side outlet conduit, a drain pipe within said cabinet unit connected to one of said side outlet conduits sealing means connected to the other of said side outlet conduits, said drain pipe and said sealing means being interchangeably connected to said side outlet conduits to provide a left or right hand cabinet unit as desired.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,917 Demarest July 31, 1888 425,921 White Apr. 15, 1890 512,416 Voorhees Jan. 9, 1894 735,470 Craig Aug. 4, 1903 1,202,960 Bonneau Oct. 31, 1916 1,943,041 Reynolds Jan. 9, 1934 2,004,933 Davison June 18, 1935 2,214,530 Carlsson June 3, 1941 2,284,350 Thwaits May 26, 1942 2,416,075 Weinstein Feb. 18, 1947 2,481,624 Sarchet Sept. 13, 1949 2,558,443 Krenov June 26, 1951 2,654,618 Kurth Oct. 6, 1953 2,911,235 Stumbough Nov. 3, 1959 2,945,240 Young July 19, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,414 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1906 708,720 Great Britain May 12, 1954 

4. A COMBINATION LAVATORY AND WATER CLOSET BATHROOM FIXTURE, COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF MATED STRUCTURAL MEMBERS AND PANELS FASTENED TOGETHER TO FORM A CABINET UNIT HAVING A GENERALLY FLAT BACK AND A STEPPED FRONT, A COUNTER TOP SUPPORTED ON SAID CABINET UNIT, SAID PANELS AND SAID COUNTER TOP GENERALLY ENCLOSING SAID CABINET UNIT SUCH THAT THE LATTER IS GENERALLY HOLLOW, SAID COUNTER TOP HAVING A LAVATORY EXTENDING INTO SAID HOLLOW CABINET UNIT BENEATH SAID COUNTER TOP, A SUPPORT STRUCTURE WITHIN SAID HOLLOW CABINET UNIT, A TOILET BOWL MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY FROM AN INCLINED FRONT PORTION OF SAID STEPPED FRONT OF SAID CABINET UNIT SUCH THAT THE TOILET BOWL EXTENDS AT AN ANGLE TOWARDS A 